Adjustable length binding system for snowboards having independently variable heel and toe spans

Abstract

A binding unit (1) for gliding boards, such as snowboards, is composed of two support plates (2) and (3) which can be independently telescoped along the longitudinal axis of a boot. Each support plate is slidingly guided along this longitudinal axis in a guide element (4 and 5, respectively). Sole-holding shackles (7 and 9) are held laterally. The support plates are form-lockingly held in a position set to the boot length by starting from a central fixing element (6).

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An adjustable length binding unit for securing a boot to a gliding board comprising: forward and rear sole-holding means;   an opening device associated with at least one of said sole-holding means;   two independently slidable support plates, oppositely disposed along the longitudinal axis of the binding unit, for holding the forward and rear sole-holding means respectively; each of said support plates having an extension which is disposed laterally and runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the support plate and, in each case, is directed toward the opposite support plate such that said extensions lie next to each other;   two spaced apart guide elements, one for each of said support plates, for slidably guiding each respective support plate independently of the other said support plate and in direction parallel to said longitudinal axis of the binding unit;   means for connecting said guide elements to the gliding board comprising a base plate formed on each of said guide elements and removably and adjustably mounted to the gliding board;   a single fixing element, operable without the aid of tools and centrally disposed along the longitudinal axis of the binding unit, for selectively engaging both of said extensions of said independently slidable support plates simultaneously, whereby engagement of said extensions by said fixing element fixes the position of said extensions along the longitudinal axis of the binding unit and disengagement therefrom allows each of said extensions to be manually, independently, and slidably displaced along the longitudinal axis of the binding unit so that variable heel and toe spans from said fixing element are establishable; and means for securing said fixing element to the gliding board.   
     
     
       2. The adjustable length binding unit of claim 1, wherein a support plate cover for each of said support plates is detachably mounted thereto and a central cover is detachably mounted to said fixing element. 
     
     
       3. An adjustable length binding unit for securing a boot to a gliding board, comprising: forward and rear sole-holding means;   an opening device associated with at least one of said sole-holding means;   two independently slidable support plates, oppositely disposed along the longitudinal axis of the binding unit, for holding said forward and rear sole-holding means respectively, each of said support plates having an extension which is disposed laterally and runs parallel to the longitudinal axis of the support plate and, in each case, is directed toward the opposite support plate such that said extensions lie next to each other;   two spaced apart guide elements, one for each of said support plates, for slidably guiding each respective support plate independently of the other said support plate and in a direction parallel to said longitudinal axis of the binding unit; each of said guide elements including a central longitudinal groove-shaped recess having a pair of side walls extending therealong;   means for connecting said guide elements to the gliding board comprising a base plate formed on each of said guide elements and removably and adjustably mounted to the gliding board;   a single fixing element, operable without the aid of tools and centrally disposed along the longitudinal axis of the binding unit, for selectively engaging both of said extensions of said independently slidable support plates simultaneously, whereby engagement of said extensions by said fixing element fixes the position of said extensions along the longitudinal axis of the binding unit and disengagement therefrom allows each of said extensions to be manually, independently, and slidably displaced along the longitudinal axis of the binding unit so that variable heel and toe spans from said fixing element are establishable; and   means for securing said fixing element to the gliding board.   a support plate cover for each of said support plates being detachably mounted thereto;   a central cover detachably mounted to said fixing element; and   wherein each of said support plates includes, at the end remote from said fixing element, two slider edges disposed parallel to the longitudinal axis of said support plates, said pair of side walls of said groove-shaped recess being slidingly engaged by a corresponding pair of slider edges on the respective support plate.   
     
     
       4. The adjustable length binding unit of claim 3, wherein each of said extensions includes an elongated slot having a toothed profile formed on the inner long side thereof. 
     
     
       5. The adjustable length binding unit of claim 4, wherein said fixing element is a cylindrical journal perpendicularly to said gliding board in the center of said binding unit, further comprising a swiveling lever having a center opening and two arms, each of said arms having a profiled, bent edge on each side thereof running substantially tangentially away from said center opening, said swiveling lever being pivoted on said journal, each said bent edge projecting into a respective said elongated slot and engaging a said toothed profile. 
     
     
       6. The adjustable length binding unit of claim 5, wherein said cylindrical journal includes a circular groove near the top thereof, each of said extensions of said support plates having an inner long edge engaging said circular groove substantially tangentially and being guided therein. 
     
     
       7. The adjustable length binding unit of claim 6, wherein said central cover comprises two guideways, said swiveling lever further comprising operating elements for manual adjustment and being pivoted in said central cover, said extensions of said support plates being slidingly guided in said guideways for mutual telescoping of said support plates with said central cover to form a single unit. 
     
     
       8. The adjustable length binding unit of claim 7, wherein said extensions each have a base opposite said cylindrical journal; said base include a complimentary-shaped recess for accommodating said cylindrical journal such that when said support plates are slid inwardly toward each other into a telescoped position wherein said slider edges of said support plates have slid out of said groove-shaped recesses on said guide elements and said complimentary-shaped recesses provide clearance sufficient between said extensions and said cylindrical journal to allow said support plates, said support-plate covers, and said central cover to be compacted into an intergrated unit and removed from the gliding board without the use of tools. 
     
     
       9. The adjustable length binding unit of claim 4, wherein said support plates are so designed that said extensions of said support plates run beneath said central cover, said support plates each having a boot-rest area and an upwardly cambered shape in said boot-rest area, whereby said central cover is insertable beneath said support plates. 
     
     
       10. The adjustable length binding unit of claim 9, further comprising retaining means disposed centrally on said longitudinal axis, each of said support-plate covers being situated in said boot-rest area and being held by said retaining means in such a way as to enable a rocking movement of said support-plate covers about said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
       11. The adjustable length binding unit of claim 10, further comprising damping elements affixed on each side of each support-plate cover for attenuating said rocking movement of said support-plate cover relative to said support plates, said damping elements being supported on said guide elements forming said groove-shaped recesses. 
     
     
       12. The adjustable length binding unit of claim 11, wherein each of said damping elements is a rectangular parallelepiped body made of a resilient thermoplastic material. 
     
     
       13. The adjustable length binding unit of claim 4, wherein said support plates each have a boot-rest area, the lateral margins of said support plates being bent upwardly in said boot-rest areas, the edges thus formed serving to hold said sole-holding means, on the one hand, and projecting into respective recesses made in said support-plate covers, on the other hand, said support-plate covers having in said boot-rest areas transversely displaceable small adjustment bearing plates which, in one position, leave said recesses of said support-plate covers free for receiving said edges, whereby a rocking movement of said support-plate covers about said longitudinal axis relative to said support plates is possible and, in another position, close said recesses of said support-plate covers and rest upon said edges of said support plates. 
     
     
       14. The adjustable length binding unit of claim 13, wherein said small adjustment bearing plates are exchangeable so that small adjustment bearing plates of differing thicknesses can be utilized. 
     
     
       15. The adjustable length binding unit of claim 13, wherein one or more of said support plate covers, central cover, small adjustment bearing plates are made of plastic material. 
     
     
       16. The adjustable length binding unit of claim 3 wherein said guide elements are held on the gliding board by mean of a detachable connection for adjusting the angle of the longitudinal axis of the boot with respect to the longitudinal axis of the gliding board, on the one hand, and for adjustment of the boot position from "regular" to "goofy,"on the other hand; said detachable connection comprises at least two cylindrical pins secured to the gliding board and having near the top thereof a circular groove, said guide elements being provided, for mounting on said cylindrical pins, with an arcuate row of holes having diameters matching said cylindrical pins and centers equidistant from said fixing element, on one side, and with a slot-shaped recess, on the other side, the distance of said recess from said fixing element being constant, and clamping elements being insertable in said groove of said cylindrical pins for gripping said guide elements. 
     
     
       17. The adjustable length binding unit of claim 16, wherein said clamping elements have on one side a U-shaped slot insertable into said circular groove of one of said cylindrical pins, and on the side remote from said slot an opening fur receiving an eccentric means. 
     
     
       18. The adjustable length binding unit of claim 17, wherein said eccentric means comprises a common clamping yoke having a rod with a flat area on one side thereof wedgeable into said opening on said clamping element opposite said slots such that when said yoke is rotated said clamping elements are displaced outwardly from said base plate to a level where said clamping elements can be slid free of said grooves in said pins thereby freeing said guide elements for movement about said fixing element; said yoke having a clamping position wherein said pins tip said clamping elements downward opposite of said slots to clamp said flat area of said yoke against said support plates thereby holding said guide elements tightly to said gliding board, and an adjusting position wherein rotation of said yoke raises said clamping elements off of said flat area and onto the cylindrical portion of said rod such that said clamping elements can be withdrawn from grooves in said pins such that said base plate and guide elements are rotatable about said fixing element.